From The Crowd: UConn Makes Hockey East Debut
On Wednesday night, the UConn Men’s Ice Hockey program made its home debut in Hockey East in front of a sellout crowd with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Boston College. As part of this historic event, UConn Athletics was pleased to welcome back many former players and longtime supporters of the men’s ice hockey. Throughout the evening, we had the opportunity to catch up with a few to hear what it means for them to see their beloved program make its debut in the nation’s premiere conference.
“30 years ago I stepped foot on campus for the first time. When I arrived I remember the first thing I did; I went for a walk across campus to check out the rink. Needless to say, I was in shock when I saw it was outside. That didn’t matter though; my teammates and I always worked hard and took pride in our program. We always talked about UConn Hockey being great and competing at the highest levels. I take great pride in being here for our first home game in Hockey East. This is a dream come true for all those who played and have supported UConn Hockey through the years.”
– Todd Krygier ’87
“When I was at student at UConn in the early 1980s I drove the Zamboni and worked as a goal judge. Back then, we played our games outside, so to be at the XL Center tonight for our first game in Hockey East is great. UConn Hockey holds a special place in my heart. Seeing it grow through the years makes me incredibly happy. It’s great to see so many former players and longtime supporters of our program here tonight. There is energy around UConn Hockey that we’ve never seen before. I am incredibly excited for our future.”
– Jim Mitchell ’83
“I’ve been going to games and supporting UConn Hockey since the year 2000. Back then, the team was part of the MAAC, so being here tonight is very special. My son plays hockey, and practices on campus at the Freitas Ice Forum. Over the years we’ve met a lot guys on the team. They’ve been great role models and my son really looks up to them. Having the chance to watch their first home game in Hockey East with him really means a lot to me.”
– Darin Cook